Racial Stereotypes In Cole's Song 'Neighbors'

Never judge a book by its cover. A common theme that children learn as they mature, yet as adults they do a worse version of it. Adults racially profile people purposely out of hate or unconsciously. Racial tensions have been high because of police brutality against the African-American population. Jermaine Cole, J Cole, wrote an album after the vile treatment of African-Americans following these police incidents. 4 Your Eyes Only earned number 1 on Billboards 200 and told the public J Cole’s view on how society treats the African-American population from his viewpoint. In his hit song “Neighbors”, J Cole rapped about the time his preppy neighbors stereotyped him and his friends. “Neighbors” demonstrates that J Cole believes racial stereotypes make it nearly impossible for African-Americans and Caucasians to live together in

J Cole and his friends were hanging out, enjoying the new scenery and new lifestyle, suddenly his neighbors because suspicious because the friends were African-American and drove “cars to get from back and forth” or crap cars (Cole LINE). At first, he tries to think positively, “the neighbors think I sellin’dope, well I am” referring to his dope music (Cole LINE). However, the neighbors are not referring to his music. They call the cops because they assume the worst when they see African-Americans with crap cars. While the friends were hanging out “cops bust in with the army guns, no evidence of the harm we done, just a couple of neighbors that assume we slang” (Cole LINE). At that moment, J Cole realizes the evil in the world. No matter how much he tries to deny it, he will always be judged by the color of his skin and that it is impossible for African-Americans and Caucasians to live together in peace. “So much for integration. Don’t know what I was thinkin’. I’m moving back to Southside” (Cole